Yale Names Kelly Rotan Assistant Coach

Former Juniata Standout Joins Bulldogs' Coaching Staff for 2011-12 Season

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The Yale University women's basketball team announced Wednesday the hiring of Kelly Rotan as an assistant coach for the upcoming 2011-12 season.

After a successful playing career at Juniata College in Pennsylvania, Rotan spent the 2010-11 academic year working at Penn State University as a marketing coordinator in the athletic department, where she helped organize events, promotions and fundraising efforts for the basketball teams and other Olympic sports.

"We are very happy Kelly Rotan is joining our coaching staff at Yale," said Chris Gobrecht, the Joel E. Smilow, Class of 1954, Head Coach of Women's Basketball at Yale. "Kelly brings some exciting experience in the marketing and promotion of women's basketball from her time at Penn State as well as the benefit of having been as excellent player herself during her college days."

Rotan joins a Bulldog staff that is coming off of its first-ever appearance in the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). She will assist Coach Gobrecht and fellow assistant coaches Allison Guth and Jarietta Benton in the development of the Bulldogs' post players, as well as all facets of game preparation.

"I am very excited to be a part of the Yale women's basketball coaching staff and program this season," Rotan said. "This is such a unique opportunity and I am very grateful to obtain such a position. I look forward to getting my feet wet in coaching and learning everything I can from Coach Gobrecht, Coach Guth, and Coach Benton."

Rotan joins the Bulldogs' coaching staff after graduating from Juniata in 2010. She led the Eagles to an NCAA Division III appearance (2008) and two consecutive ECAC South Region Tournament appearances (2009, 2010), including the 2009 ECAC South Region Championship, which was the first postseason championship of any kind in the history of women's basketball at Juniata. During that tournament, Rotan shot a stellar 13-for-16 from the field (81.3 percent) and averaged 9.3 points over the three games in the tournament.

Rotan, originally from Atco, N.J., averaged 8.2 points and 7.1 rebounds during her senior season while serving as Juniata's team captain. Primarily a forward for the Eagles, Rotan scored 590 points and grabbed 465 rebounds during her career and helped Juniata earn three Landmark Conference postseason berths during her four seasons. She was also a three-time Academic Honor Roll choice as a sports management major.